The Unexpected Cost of Playing Proxies

I don’t hate proxies, I don’t think they’re unethical, and I definitely don’t think someone sitting across from me with a fully proxied deck is doing anything wrong. But I do think unlimited access to every card ever printed can quietly make Commander worse, at least when it comes to brewing. This video isn’t about affordability. Proxies absolutely make the game more accessible, and that’s a good thing. Instead, this is a deeper look at something we don’t talk about enough: Why restrictions are what actually make deck building fun. Budget. Color identity. Archetype limitations. Those constraints force creativity. They push you to dig through bulk, find weird tech, and solve problems your colors “aren’t supposed” to solve. For me, that’s the magic of Commander. When you remove every obstacle, when every card is on the table, something subtle disappears. The deck might be stronger. It might be smoother. But it can start to feel less personal. So this isn’t a proxy hate video. It’s a conversation about creativity, friction, and why having everything can sometimes make nothing feel special. 💬 Join our Discord:   / discord